Electric fryer

ABSTRACT

An appliance for frying has a frying pot disposed within a housing for containing oil or fat and having a normally-closed valve disposed at a bottom thereof. An oil receiving tank is removably receivable within the housing below the frying pot, and has an oil receiving hole positionable below the draining valve such that when the valve is opened, the or fat may flow from the frying pot into the oil receiving tank. An actuation mechanism disposed entirely on the housing has a first condition wherein the activation mechanism allows removal of the oil receiving tank relative to the housing, a second condition wherein the activation mechanism prevents removal of the oil receiving tank relative to the housing while not opening the valve, and a third condition wherein the activation mechanism prevents removal of the oil receiving tank relative to the housing while opening the valve.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of, and claims full priority to,pending U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/444,166, filed onFeb. 27, 2017, and is there-through a Continuation-in-Part of, andclaims full priority to, U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No.15/367,689, filed on Dec. 2, 2016, and Chinese Application Number201610132549.5 filed on Mar. 9, 2016, and to all applications anywhereto which said applications are entitled to priority, the entireteachings all of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is related to the “deep fat” frying of food. Morespecifically, the invention is related to appliances and methods forsuch frying. In particular, the invention provides an improved means formaintaining clean and fresh cooking oil or “fat” in such appliances.

BACKGROUND

Appliances for deep fat frying are common and well known. Suchappliances typically include a tank for holding the oil in which thefood is to be fried (the “fat”), means for heating that oil to atemperature sufficiently high to fry the food when the food is immersedtherein, and a basket or other form of food holding device formanipulating the food, such as immersing it into the oil to fry andremoving it from the oil when frying is completed.

A common problem with such appliances is that the oil supply containedtherein will quickly become contaminated with bits of food duringfrying, will become foul tasting and malodorous by the combination ofsuch bits of food remaining therein and by prolonged periods at hightemperatures, and by remaining non-refrigerated in the appliance forlong periods between uses and thereby spoiling. So there is a need for afryer that allows for the cleansing and refrigerated storage of the oilbetween uses.

Another problem common to deep fryers is that the oil is often used tocook foods that may cause allergic reactions in some persons, such asfish. So when if the fryer allows for such storage and reuse, cautionneeds to be used to avoid such reuse for those persons. So there is aneed a fryer that allows for the storage and reuse of distinct vesselsof such used oils; such as allergic and non-allergic.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,666,131 and 7,314,001, co-invented and co-owned by SEBS.A., teach a deep fryer having a removable emptying vessel into whichused oil may be drained by a control mechanism that activates a drainvalve of the cooking vessel. However, the control mechanism foractivating the drain valve is disadvantageously mounted on the emptyingvessel and so, if more than one vessel is used, such as described above,the mechanism must be repeated for each vessel, causing unneeded expenseand complication. Further, because the mechanism is the most delicatepart of the vessel and is exposed on the vessel when it is removed fromthe fryer, it is prone to damage.

In its later T-Fal FR8000 fryer, SEB S.A. apparently attempts to rectifythat deficiency by moving most of the control mechanism to the fryer,but leaves a critical portion of the mechanism in a precariousvalve-actuating member that extends from and is part of the emptyingvessel. Additionally, because the mechanism is shared by two major andseparable components whose relative disposition is difficult toprecisely control, the reliability of the valve actuation iscompromised. It is found that the valve actuation mechanism does notproperly operate unless the emptying vessel is carefully moved into“just the right position”.

There is a need for a fryer that employs one or more emptying andstoring vessels in which the cost, complexity, and vulnerability of thevessel is minimized, and such is an object of the present invention.There is the need for such a fryer in which the valve operatingmechanism is solely contained within the fryer and not reliant on theprecise positioning of the vessel, and such is an object of the presentinvention. There is the need for such a fryer in which, when used withmultiple vessels, redundant components are minimized, and such is anobject of the present invention. Further advantages and objects of thepresent invention exist, which will be appreciated upon review of theincluded disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention may be embodied in or practiced using a deep fat fryingappliance which includes means for filtering contaminants from the oilafter cooking and means for transferring that filtered oil into astorage device which may be removed from the appliance and refrigerated,to thereby keep the oil fresh and reusable for a longer time and formore frequent re-uses.

The invention may be embodied in or practiced using an appliance fordeep frying foodstuffs having a housing with a frying pot disposedtherein for containing cooking oil or fat and having a normally-closeddraining valve disposed at a bottom thereof. An oil receiving tank maybe removably receivable within the housing below the frying pot, mayhave an oil receiving hole positionable below the draining valve suchthat when the draining valve is opened, the cooking oil or fat may flowfrom the frying pot into the oil receiving tank.

The appliance may have an actuation mechanism disposed entirely on thehousing and having a first condition wherein the activation mechanismallows removal and replacement of the oil receiving tank relative to thehousing, a second condition wherein the activation mechanism preventsremoval and replacement of the oil receiving tank relative to thehousing while not opening the draining valve, and a third conditionwherein the activation mechanism prevents removal and replacement of theoil receiving tank relative to the housing while opening the drainingvalve.

The oil receiving tank may include a seal movable to either seal orunseal the oil receiving hole and engagable by the housing such that theoil receiving hole is sealed when the tank is removed from the housingand unsealed when the tank is received within the housing. The seal maybe slidable co-directionally with the reception and removal of the oilreceiving tank relative to the housing such that engagement of the sealwith the housing causes the seal to slide between an unsealing and asealing position.

The actuation mechanism may include a rotor having a user-operable knobportion and a valve actuator portion, wherein rotation of the knobportion between the second and third conditions causes the valveactuation portion to open and close the valve, respectively. The rotormay have a cam and the actuation mechanism may include a movable link,and rotation of the knob portion from the second condition to the thirdcondition may cause the link to open the valve and rotation the knobportion from the third condition to the second condition may cause thelink to close the valve. The link may be a spring-biased rockerpivotable in a “see-saw” motion by engagement with the cam such that asthe cam forces a proximal end of the rocker downwardly, a distal end ofthe rocker moves upwardly to force open the valve.

The rotor may include a blocking member, and rotation of the rotor fromthe first condition to either of the second or third conditions maycause the blocking member to prevent removal and replacement of the oilreceiving tank relative to the housing.

The appliance may have a filter for removing particulate matter from thecooking oil or fat as the cooking oil or fat flows from the frying potinto the oil receiving tank. The filter may be disposed within thefrying pot. The draining valve may include the filter. The filter may beremovable from the appliance for cleaning or replacement.

The invention may alternatively be embodied in or practiced using anappliance for deep frying foodstuffs with a housing, a frying potdisposed within the housing for containing cooking oil or fat and havinga normally-closed draining valve disposed at a bottom thereof, and aheating control removably engagable with the housing.

The heating control may have a heating element disposed within thefrying pot when the heating control engages the housing to heat thecooking oil or fat, and a control for selectively energizing the heatingelement.

An oil receiving tank may be removably receivable within the housingbelow the frying pot, having an oil receiving hole positionable belowthe draining valve such that when the valve is opened, oil may flow fromthe frying pot into the oil receiving tank.

The appliance may have an actuation mechanism disposed entirely on thehousing and with a first condition wherein the activation mechanismallows removal and replacement of the oil receiving tank relative to thehousing, a second condition wherein the activation mechanism preventsremoval and replacement of the oil receiving tank relative to thehousing while not opening the valve, and a third condition wherein theactivation mechanism prevents removal and replacement of the oilreceiving tank relative to the housing while opening the valve.

The oil receiving tank may include a seal movable co-directionally withthe reception and removal of the oil receiving tank relative to thehousing to either seal or unseal the oil receiving hole and engagable bythe housing such that the oil receiving hole is sealed when the tank isremoved from the housing and unsealed when the tank is received withinthe housing. The actuation mechanism may include a rotor having auser-operable knob portion and a valve actuator portion, and rotation ofthe rotor between the second and third conditions may cause the valveactuation portion to open and close the valve, respectively. The rotormay have a cam.

The actuation mechanism may include a spring-biased rocker, and rotationof the rotor from the second condition to the third condition may causethe cam to force a proximal end of the rocker downwardly, a may cause adistal end of the rocker to move upwardly to force open the valve. Therotor may also include a blocking member, and rotation of the rotor fromthe first condition to either of the second or third conditions maycause the blocking member to prevent removal and replacement of the oilreceiving tank relative to the housing.

The draining valve may include a filter for removing particulate matterfrom the cooking oil or fat as the cooking oil or fat flows from thefrying pot into the oil receiving tank.

Further features and aspects of the invention are disclosed with morespecificity in the Detailed Description and Drawings provided herein andshowing exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of a deep fat fryer in accordance with or usefulin practicing the invention are shown in the accompanying Drawings, ofwhich;

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a deep fat fryer;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fryer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a full side cross sectional view through the fryer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the fryer of FIG. 1 with is oilstorage tank being removed;

FIG. 5 is an exploded partial perspective view of the oil storage tankof the fryer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the assembled oil storage tank of FIG.5 in its sealed configuration;

FIG. 6B is a partial top view of the sealing mechanism of the oilstorage tank of FIG. 6A in its sealed configuration;

FIG. 6C is a partial cross sectional view of the sealing mechanism ofFIG. 6B in its sealed configuration;

FIG. 7A is a partial perspective view of the assembled oil storage tankof FIG. 5 in its filtered oil receiving configuration;

FIG. 7B is a partial top view of the sealing mechanism of the oilstorage tank of FIG. 7A in its filtered oil receiving configuration;

FIG. 7C is a partial cross sectional view of the sealing mechanism ofFIG. 7B in its filtered oil receiving configuration;

FIG. 8A is a partial cross sectional view through the seal activationsystem of the fryer of FIG. 1 in its locked configuration;

FIG. 8B is a partial cross sectional view through the seal activationsystem of the fryer of FIG. 1 in its oil filtering configuration;

FIG. 8C is a partial cross sectional view through the seal activationsystem of the fryer of FIG. 1 in its unlocked configuration;

FIG. 9A is a partial front view of the fryer of FIG. 1 in its lockedconfiguration;

FIG. 9B is a partial front view of the fryer of FIG. 1 in its oilfiltering configuration;

FIG. 9C is a partial front view of the fryer of FIG. 1 in its unlockedconfiguration;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the filter/valve assembly of the fryerof FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the filter/valve assembly of the fryer ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the seal activating mechanism of the fryer ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the seal activating mechanism of FIG.12;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional of the sliding seal of the fryer of FIG. 1taken at Line 14-14 of FIG. 7B; and

FIG. 15 is a partial exploded internal view of the fryer of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 15, the invention may be embodied in orpracticed using the depicted electrical deep frying appliance 100. Thedeep fryer includes a main housing 102, a heating control 104, a lid106, a filtered oil tank 108, and food baskets. The food baskets includelarge basket 110 and two small baskets 112. The main housing includes afrying pot 114 that is intended to receive cooking oil. The heatingcontrol includes an electrical control box 116 and a tubular electricheating element 118. The control box includes a power cord (not shown)for connection to electrical power, and controls for programming andoperating the heating element, cooking temperature, and timing.

The lid and heating control are removable from the main housing tosimplify cleaning of these components individually and for otheradvantageous reasons. With the lid removed and the heating controlproperly engaged into the main housing, the heating element is disposednear the bottom of the frying pot. Cooking oil may then be poured intothe cooking pot to a level high within the pot, as shown in FIG. 3. Theheating element may then heat the cooking oil in the pot to a desiredtemperature according to the user's selection. Athermostatically-controlled display on the control box may indicate whenthe oil is at the proper frying temperature.

The large basket, or one or both of the small baskets may then be loadedwith food to be fried and lowered into the pot such that the food isimmersed below the top surface of the heated cooking oil and is friedthere-within. FIG. 2 shows the handles of small baskets in broken linesto demonstrate where they would be positioned when used.

The lid may or may not be replaced over the frying pot during frying.The basket's handle 120 rests on the upper perimeter of the housing toposition and retain the food properly within the oil, and extends fromthe appliance for safety and convenience when manipulating the basket. Atimer in the heating control may indicate, via the display, when thefood has been sufficiently fried. The baskets are also configured toengage the housing in a position directly above the cooking pot, such asafter frying is complete. The baskets are, of course, perforated toallow the oil to circulate through the basket and food during frying,and to allow the oil to drain from the basket back into the cooking potwhen resting in the above position after frying. After the food has beenserved, the empty basket, lid, and heating control may be taken to thesink and washed.

The heating element is displaced from the bottom of the cooking potduring frying sufficiently to allow circulation of the oil as it isheated and to allow space for food crumbs and such to collect below asthey inadvertently fall from frying food, so that they are not incontact with the heating element. Such contact will not only insulatethe heating element from the oil, but will also promote burning andundesirable oil qualities. Cooking oil is relatively expensive, but maybe re-used many times if not overheated, if kept clean, and ifrefrigerated between uses. But these crumbs and such are undesirablepollutants that can taint and otherwise shorten the life of the cookingoil. They impart bad flavors, colors, and odors into the oil, and theyspoil much faster than the oil, even when refrigerated.

In typical prior art fryers, a user intent on saving the used oil forre-use would typically allow the oil to cool in the cooking post, thenlift the appliance and pour the used oil through a funnel into aseparate container for placement into a refrigerator. But of course,such pouring from a heavy appliance was prone to spillage and messywaste. The oil pouring from the appliance would initially be the clearoil at the top of the pot, but would eventually get cloudier and includemore crumbs as it was poured. While the user might try to terminate thepouring as the crumbs begin to flow into the container, it wasimpossible to prevent the flow of some of the crumbs, and the crumbsremaining in the pot would include a significant amount of useful oilthat would then be wasted.

To overcome this deficiency, the bottom of frying pot 114 is equippedwith a novel filtering drain system that communicates directly andselectively with the removable filtered oil tank 108, as shown in FIGS.3 thru 15.

The operation of the filtering drain system is depicted in FIGS. 8Athrough 9C, and the related components are shown in FIGS. 5 through 7Cand 10 through 15. The components of the system include filter/valveassembly 130, actuation rotor 132, sliding seal 134, and spring-biasedrocker 136. The filter/valve assembly includes filtering cap 138 andnormally-closed spring-biased valve 140. Actuation rotor 132 andspring-biased rocker 136 together form a valve actuation mechanism. Theportion of the actuation rotor outside of housing is a knob portion foraccess by the user, and the portion within the housing is a valveactuation portion for engaging and controlling the filter/valve assemblyand spring-biased valve.

The filter valve assembly is affixed through a drain hole in the bottomof the frying pot. Porous filtering cap 138 is removable for cleaning orreplacement. As shown, this cap is made of perforated formed stainlesssteel sheet, but it might otherwise be made of formed screen or anyequivalent construction, provided that the openings there-through arelarge enough to allow the passing of oil but small enough to prevent thepassing of most food particles. It is found that openings ofapproximately 1.5 to 2 MM perform adequately. The valve is biased closedby compression spring 146 so that valve stem 148 is normally forceddownwardly to seal the drain hole.

Rocker 136 is pivotally affixed to support 149 of the main housing athinge pin 150 and biased by compression spring 152 so that itsvalve-actuating post 154 at the rocker's distal end is normallypositioned down below and not in contact with the valve stem (When usedherein, the term “proximal” shall be meant to mean towards a userpositioned at the front of the appliance, and the term “distal” shall bemeant to mean the opposite). This leaves valve 140 in its normallyclosed condition. The proximal end of the rocker is selectivelyengagable by cam 155 of the actuation rotor so that when the rotor isrotated the cam causes the rocker to pivot in a “see-saw” motion againstthe bias of spring 152, such that the valve-actuating post moves upwardagainst the valve pin, forcing the valve open. Reverse rotation of therotor allows spring 152 to force the rocker's valve actuating post backdown, thereby allowing spring 146 to force the valve closed.

Sliding seal 134 is slidingly affixed to filtered oil tank 108 andnormally biased by two compression springs 160 so that the sliding sealcovers over and seals filtered oil hole 162 of the tank. When the tankis pushed into the main housing, the sliding seal engages tab 164 ofsupport 149 to force the sliding seal towards the proximal end of thetank, thereby aligning the sliding seal's funnel 166 with the filteredoil hole as the filtered oil hole becomes aligned under valve 140.Pulling the tank back out of the housing, when allowed to do so by theposition of the actuating rotor (as later explained) allows the slidingseal to move back towards the distal end of the tank, under theinfluence of springs 160, to cover over and re-seal the filtered oilhole.

Actuation rotor 132 serves two functions;

-   -   1) it locks filtered oil tank 108 into main housing 102 to        prevent its removal except under the proper circumstances , and    -   2) it actuates rocker 136 to actuate valve 140 under the proper        circumstances.

The filtered oil tank may be may slid into or from the housing when theactuation rotor is in its “Unlock” position, as demonstrated in FIGS. 4,8C, and 9C. When the tank is properly positioned within the housing, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotor may be rotted to its “Lock” position,as shown in FIGS. 8A and 9A, so that the rotor's blocking tab 166rotates to block removal of the tank. In this “Lock” position the valveis not forced open by the rotor's cam 155 (best appreciated by viewingFIG. 8A), so oil 168 is retained in frying pot 114 and heating control104 may be operated to perform frying, as described above.

After frying is complete, actuation rotor 132 may be rotated to its“Filter Oil” position, whereby cam 155 engages the proximal end ofrocker 136 to cause the opening of valve 140, as described above, tothereby allow the used “dirty” oil 158 to flow from pot 114, throughfilter cap 138 (whereby it is converted to “clean oil” suitable forre-use), through opened valve 140, through funnel 166 and filtered oilhole 162, and into filtered oil tank 108. Note that blocking tab 166continues to prevent removal of the tank during the “Filter Oil”arrangement.

Actuation rotor 132 may then be rotated to its “Unlock” position, asshown in FIGS. 8C and 9C, whereby blocking tab 166 is no longer blockingremoval of the tank, and valve 140 is allowed to re-close, and thefiltered oil tank, now filled with filtered “clean” oil, may be removedfrom housing 102 and stored in a refrigerator.

The filtered oil tank is also equipped with means to neatly pour thefiltered oil back into the frying pot prior to the next frying event.Plug 170 normally seals a pouring hole (not shown) in a distal corner ofthe tank. When the plug is removed, the tank may be positioned over thefrying pot and, because the pouring hole is adjacent a corner of thetank, oil may be poured from the tank without spillage or the need for afunnel.

While the heating element shown is an immersible electrical heatingtube, and the heating control is removable from the housing, othercommon means for controlling and heating may alternatively be employedwithout departing from the invention. For instance, the invention couldbe equivalently practiced in a frying appliance having a heating elementdisposed under the frying pot and above the filtered oil tank. Or theheating of the oil could be accomplished by a gas-burning flame underthe frying pot and above the filtered oil tank. Additionally, thecontrols could be equivalently arranged as a permanently affixed portionof the housing without departing from the scope of the invention.

Further, the rocker operation could be flipped over and the valveconfiguration could be such that the valve is opened when the valve stemis pulled down rather than pushed up, and the rocker could engage thevalve stem and be caused by the cam to pull the valve stem down when therotor is turned to the “Filter Oil” position.

So while the invention has been shown and described with reference to aspecific exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and detail may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that theinvention should therefore only be limited according to the followingclaims, including the broadest interpretation to which they areentitled.

I claim:
 1. An appliance for deep frying foodstuffs and comprising: ahousing; an open-topped frying pot disposed within and accessiblethrough a top of the housing for containing cooking oil or fat andhaving a normally-closed draining valve disposed at a bottom thereof; anoil receiving tank removably receivable within and through a front ofthe housing below the frying pot, having an oil receiving holepositionable below the draining valve such that when the draining valveis opened, the cooking oil or fat may flow from the frying pot into theoil receiving tank; and an actuation mechanism on the front of thehousing having; a first condition wherein the activation mechanismallows removal and replacement of the oil receiving tank relative to thehousing with the draining valve closed; a second condition wherein theactivation mechanism prevents removal and replacement of the oilreceiving tank relative to the housing while not opening the drainingvalve; and a third condition wherein the activation mechanism preventsremoval and replacement of the oil receiving tank relative to thehousing while opening the draining valve; wherein the actuationmechanism comprises a rotor having a user-operable knob portionaccessible at the front of the housing and a valve actuator portion, andwherein rotation of the knob portion between the second and thirdconditions causes the valve actuation portion to open and close thevalve, respectively; wherein the rotor comprises a cam and the actuationmechanism further comprises a movable link, and wherein rotation of theknob portion from the second condition to the third condition causes thelink to open the valve and rotation of the knob portion from the thirdcondition to the second condition causes the link to close the valve;wherein the link is a spring-biased rocker pivotable in a see-saw motionby engagement with the cam such that as the cam forces a proximal end ofthe rocker downwardly, a distal end of the rocker moves upwardly toforce open the valve; wherein the rotor further comprises a blockingmember, and wherein rotation of the knob portion from the firstcondition to either of the second or third conditions causes theblocking member to prevent removal and replacement of the oil receivingtank relative to the housing; further comprising a filter for removingparticulate matter from the cooking oil or fat as the cooking oil or fatflows from the frying pot into the oil receiving tank; and wherein theactuation mechanism is disposed entirely on the housing such that itremains on the housing when the oil receiving tank is removedthere-from.
 2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the oil receiving tankcomprises a seal movable to either seal or unseal the oil receiving holeand engagable by the housing such that the oil receiving hole is sealedwhen the tank is removed from the housing and unsealed when the tank isreceived within the housing.
 3. The appliance of claim 2 wherein theseal is slidable co-directionally with the receipt and removal of theoil receiving tank relative to the housing such that engagement of theseal with the housing cause the seal to slide between an unsealing and asealing position.
 4. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the oil receivingtank comprises a seal movable to either seal or unseal the oil receivinghole and engagable by the housing such that the oil receiving hole issealed when the tank is removed from the housing and unsealed when thetank is received within the housing.
 5. The appliance of claim 4 whereinthe seal is slidable co-directionally with the reception and removal ofthe oil receiving tank relative to the housing such that engagement ofthe seal with the housing cause the seal to slide between an unsealingand a sealing position.
 6. The appliance of claim 5 further comprising afilter for removing particulate matter from the cooking oil or fat asthe cooking oil or fat flows from the frying pot into the oil receivingtank.
 7. The appliance of claim 6 wherein the filter is disposed withinthe frying pot.
 8. The appliance of claim 7 wherein draining valvecomprises the filter.
 9. The appliance of claim 8 wherein the filter isremovable from the appliance for cleaning or replacement.
 10. Theappliance of claim 4 wherein the rotor further comprises a blockingmember, and wherein rotation of the knob portion from the firstcondition to either of the second or third conditions causes theblocking member to prevent removal and replacement of the oil receivingtank relative to the housing.
 11. The appliance of claim 10 wherein thefilter is within the frying pot.
 12. The appliance of claim 11 whereindraining valve comprises the filter.
 13. The appliance of claim 12wherein the filter is removable from the appliance for cleaning orreplacement.
 14. An appliance for deep frying foodstuffs and comprising:a housing; an open-topped frying pot disposed within and accessiblethrough a top of the housing for containing cooking oil or fat andhaving a normally-closed draining valve disposed at a bottom thereof; aheating control removably engagable with the housing and comprising; aheating element disposed within the frying pot when the heating controlengages the housing to heat the cooking oil or fat; and a control forselectively energizing the heating element; an oil receiving tankremovably receivable within and through a front of the housing below thefrying pot, having an oil receiving hole positionable below the drainingvalve such that when the valve is opened, oil may flow from the fryingpot into the oil receiving tank; and an actuation mechanism on the frontof the housing having; a first condition wherein the activationmechanism allows removal and replacement of the oil receiving tankrelative to the housing with the valve closed; a second conditionwherein the activation mechanism prevents removal and replacement of theoil receiving tank relative to the housing while not opening the valve;and a third condition wherein the activation mechanism prevents removaland replacement of the oil receiving tank relative to the housing whileopening the valve; wherein the oil receiving tank comprises a sealslidable co-directionally with the reception and removal of the oilreceiving tank relative to the housing to either seal or unseal the oilreceiving hole and engagable by the housing such that the oil receivinghole is sealed when the tank is removed from the housing and unsealedwhen the tank is received within the housing; wherein the actuationmechanism comprises a rotor comprising; a user-operable knob portionaccessible at the front of the housing and a valve actuator portion, andwherein rotation of the knob portion between the second and thirdconditions causes the valve actuation portion to open and close thevalve, respectively; and a cam; wherein the actuation mechanism furthercomprises a spring-biased rocker, and wherein rotation of the knobportion from the second condition to the third condition causes the camto force a proximal end of the rocker downwardly, and causes a distalend of the rocker to move upwardly to force open the valve; wherein therotor further comprises a blocking member, and wherein rotation of theknob portion from the first condition to either of the second or thirdconditions causes the blocking member to prevent removal and replacementof the oil receiving tank relative to the housing; and wherein thedraining valve comprises a filter for removing particulate matter fromthe cooking oil or fat as the cooking oil or fat flows from the fryingpot into the oil receiving tank; and wherein the actuation mechanism isdisposed entirely on the housing such that it remains on the housingwhen the oil receiving tank is removed there-from.